Bush-Cheney Illegal NSA Spying Began Before 9/11, Telecom CEO Claims

The spying’s purpose isn’t to keep us safe from the terrorists. Digital Journal writes:

Contradicting a statement by ex-vice president Dick Cheney on Sunday that warrantless domestic surveillance might have prevented 9/11, 2007 court records indicate that the Bush-Cheney administration began such surveillance at least 7 months prior to 9/11.

The Bush administration bypassed the law requiring such actions to be authorized by FISA court warrants. Former QWest CEO John Nacchios said that at a meeting with the NSA on February 27, 2001, he and other QWest officials declined to participate. AT&T, Verizon and Bellsouth all agreed to shunt customer communications records to an NSA database.

Other sources corroborate the former CEO’s allegations, which were made in the course of his legal defense against insider trading charges. Both Slate and National Journal have published reports in which sources are quoted which support the former CEO’s claims.